IaC Refresher: Key Concepts & Latest Tools and Trends (Part-2)

Building on the core concepts introduced in part 1, we will now explore some of the most widely used tools needed in this domain with a concise overview.

Ansible

Written in Python, Ansible is a popular open-source software, it supports a vast range of systems, from common Linux environments to complex mainframes. Ansible uses Playbooks, written in YAML, to orchestrate tasks across multiple systems. These Playbooks define the current state of a system, the desired future state, and the steps to get there. Known for its simplicity and power, Ansible can manage the entire IT infrastructure. It automates tasks like configuring application environments and executing commands on remote systems.

Chef

While Chef offers automation capabilities, it's primarily a configuration management tool. It excels at ensuring consistent infrastructure across your systems, focusing on automating tasks like provisioning and configuration. While Chef offers Python libraries, it doesn't strictly require Python expertise. You can leverage its domain-specific language (DSL) for configuration management tasks without needing extensive Python programming knowledge.

Jenkins

Jenkins excels as a continuous delivery tool, automating software deployment across various programming languages. While it is a great fit with Chef, it can integrate with other tools. It includes features like automated testing, commonly found in CI tools.

Saltstack

Saltstack is a popular automation tool for managing infrastructure and applications.? It leverages human-readable YAML configuration files, simplifying collaboration and knowledge transfer within larger teams compared to tools heavily reliant on custom code (like Chef). Its agent-based architecture and comprehensive feature set cater to extensive automation needs. Saltstack's established presence and adoption by major corporations translate to a robust online community. This extensive user base offers valuable resources and troubleshooting assistance when needed. Saltstack was acquired by VMware which got acquired by Broadcom. Recent blog post from Tom Hatch (creator of Salt project) touches what Broadcom’s plans are. https://saltproject.io/blog/tom-exits-broadcom-stays-with-salt/index.html

Pulumi

Pulumi provides overall experience compared to established tools like Chef and Terraform in Application and Infrastructure deployment. Pulumi offers a wide array of features and supports cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure. Organizations deploying Applications across multiple cloud environments must evaluate this tool.

Terraform / OpenTofu

Both Terraform and OpenTofu are infrastructure as code (IaC) tools for managing cloud infrastructure. While they have similarities, they also have some fundamental differences. On the similarity side, both Terraform and OpenTofu allow us to define desired infrastructure state using IaC code and manage its deployment across various cloud providers through a consistent command-line interface. They also share support for the HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL). As far as licensing is concerned, Terraform takes a closed-source approach with a Business Source License, while OpenTofu embraces the open-source world with a Mozilla Public License. This translates to a paid service offering for Terraform Cloud, which provides features like state management and remote operations. OpenTofu, on the other hand, relies on third-party services for these functionalities. As both tools continue to evolve, we can expect to see more distinctions emerge in the future. With IBM’s acquisition of HashiCorp, we can only expect IBM to do what is best for their shareholders ??

Packer

A "base profile" is a foundational element defining the initial configuration applied to compute resources. This ensures consistency across deployed machines. It typically includes configurations like: root password, NTP servers, SMTP servers, Deployment of monitoring tools, …etc…

While base profiles are essential for consistency, they can sometimes hinder the speed of provisioning new machines. To address this, consider creating a custom base image of an operating system. Packer, an open-source tool from HashiCorp, simplifies the creation of identical machine images for various platforms and operating systems, including:

Cloud platforms: Amazon Web Services (AWS) - Amazon Linux, Ubuntu, Windows Server Google Cloud Platform (GCP) - Debian, CentOS, Windows Server Microsoft Azure - Windows Server, Ubuntu, CentOS DigitalOcean - Ubuntu, CentOS, Fedora Virtualization platforms: VMware – ESXi These images can then be deployed in the cloud or used with on-premise virtual orchestrators.

Benefits of Using Packer includes Reduced Provisioning Time, Enhanced Consistency

Crossplane

is an open-source Kubernetes tool that empowers you to manage and provision cloud infrastructure and services using the familiar kubectl command. It supports all major cloud providers, making it a versatile tool for multi-cloud environments.

Spacelift

This is a cloud agnostic platform that leverages the power of policy-as-code and the Open Policy Agent (OPA) framework, enabling us to define and enforce granular policies throughout the application lifecycle. From login and access control to approvals and infrastructure initialization, you gain complete control with features like role-based security, custom approval workflows, and Gitflow integration. This innovative platform empowers you to manage your cloud infrastructure with greater flexibility, security, and compliance.

Tools to Emulate Cloud services

In a Multi / Hybrid cloud environment, emulation of public cloud services locally will make the testing inexpensive and without interacting with public cloud.? LocalStack to emulate AWS endpoints and Azure Functions Runtime are examples.

Cloud specific automation tools

Cloud Formation (AWS), Azure Resource Manager templates, Google Cloud Deployment Manager are examples of cloud specific automation which works well within their platform but challenging to integrate them in multi/hybrid cloud environments.

Version Management

Version control is an essential aspect of software development and it applies to IaC too. Allows teams to track changes to code and collaborate effectively. Git is a widely used distributed version control system, enabling developers to track changes to code, revert to previous versions, and collaborate with others. Bitbucket, on the other hand, is a web-based version control repository hosting service, providing source code and development projects that use either Mercurial or Git revision control systems. Both tools offer robust features for managing code, including branching, merging, and conflict resolution. IMHO, Any standard version control software will do.

Development Environment

While basic text editors like vi, emacs, or notepad++ can be used for IaC, a development environment provides features like syntax highlighting, debugging tools, and version control integration, which are crucial for efficient IaC development. You can develop IaC similar to application code in Python or Java. We can also use programs such as co-pilot accelerate and aid the team in development.

Interesting times ahead

The IT infrastructure/services/Application development/support has gone through from all in-house, Hybrid, total outsourcing, to Cloud. While IaC requires upfront investment and security considerations, its benefits are undeniable. By automating infrastructure provisioning, IaC fosters agility, reduces costs, and improves consistency. Additionally, IaC strengthens security compliance and facilitates collaboration within DevOps teams. As enterprises navigate the ever-changing IT landscape, IaC emerges as a critical layer for ensuring efficient, reliable, and secure infrastructure management.